PARKS & RECREATION
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PARKS & RECREATION |
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Bidwell Park - The 3,618 acre municipal park encompasses both sides of Big Chico Creek Canyon and is the 7th largest municipal park in the United States. There are two distinct sections to the park - Lower and Upper. Following are the many areas of the park with a brief description of each. |
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Cedar Grove |
Picnic Tables Barbeques |
The Grove offers picnic tables and barbecues that are easily accessible. |
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Caper Acres |
Playground Picnic Tables |
A playground for young children. Closed on Mondays. |
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Chico Creek Nature Ctr |
Picnic Tables Creek Access |
The official information and interpretive center for Bidwell Park. Housed within the Center is a non-releasable living animal collection that features native animal species from Bidwell Park and other California habitats. |
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One Mile Recreation Area |
Picnic Tables |
Enjoy swimming at Sycamore Pool, barbecues, softball at Sycamore Field, horseshoe pits and more. |
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Equestrian Center |
Horse Trails |
Equestrian enthusiasts also enjoy Bidwell Park. Horses are welcome on many of the trails in the park and equestrian events are held at arena off Wildwood Avenue. |
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Horseshoe Lake |
Picnic Tables Fishing Off-leash Dog Area |
Although there is no swimming allowed in Horseshoe Lake, it is the perfect place for a family outing. Kids can try their hand at fishing in the lake. Off-leash area for dogs. |
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Five Mile Recreation Area |
Picnic Area/Tables Barbecues |
Picnic tables, barbecues and plenty of open space, making it a popular spot for large group gatherings. |
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Kiwanis Chico Community Observatory |
Observatory |
Nightly constellation tours including use of the portable displays which integrate live images from the telescopes with the tour. Kiwanis |
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In addition to Bidwell Park the following parks are maintained by the City of Chico. 896-7805 |
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Children's Playground |
Playground Picnic Tables |
Children's playground with picnic tables and grassy area for playing. |
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Wildwood Park |
Fields |
Two softball fields, large playground for children, picnic tables in covered area in case of rain. |
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Downtown City Plaza |
A variety of community affairs and concerts are held in the Downtown City Plaza. |
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Skateboarding Park |
Skateboarding |
Skateboard Park |
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Chico Area Recreation & Park District - Sports, Aquatics, Classes, Special Events, After School Programs, Senior Activities, Facility Rentals. The following list of Parks and Community Centers are maintained by Chico Area Recreation & Park District - Community Center, 545 Vallombrosa Avenue, Chico 895-4711 |
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Community Park |
Tennis Courts Softball Fields Barbeque Horseshoe Pits Picnic Tables Playground Restrooms Volleyball |
Chico's largest outdoor sports park, its 30 acres provide courts along with ball fields, a large playground, barbecue grills, picnic tables, and lots of space to just sit. |
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Community Park Field House |
Basketball Volleyball |
Indoor Basketball and Volleyball. Contact CARD for open gym times. |
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DeGarmo Park |
Dog Park Softball Fields |
1-acre area enclosed dog park where dogs can run off-leash. |
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Dorothy F. Johnson Center |
Social Hall |
Great place for a party, dance or meeting. Seating capacity: 100 - |
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Hooker Oak Park |
Playground Picnic Tables Barbeque Horseshoe Pits Basketball Softball Fields |
This is a popular playing field area and is the site of several local softball and baseball leagues, also a favorite spot for kite flying. A nice playground gives the kids something to do. |
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Pleasant Valley Recreation Center |
Social Hall |
The perfect place for your special occasion. |
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Pleasant Valley Pool |
Swimming |
CARD seasonally offers swim lessons, lap Swim and family open swim. |
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Shapiro Pool |
Swimming |
open May thru mid- August |
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Oak Way Park
Neighborhood Park |
Playground |
Offers a variety of leisure activities to include one of Chico's best outdoor basketball courts. Highlights of this park include lighted walking paths, open field space and covered picnic and barbecue areas. |
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Peterson Neighborhood Park |
Basketball Courts Picnic Tables Playground |
4.5 acre neighborhood park. |
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Rotary Neighborhood Park |
Basketball Court |
Small Children's playground w/ 2 picnic tables & barbeque. |
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Additional Points of Interest |
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Picnic Tables Barbeques Creek Access |
Honey Run Covered Bridge |
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Mansion Tours |
CA State Parks |
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Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park
Take West Sacramento Ave. 5 miles until it intersects with River Road. Chico 342-5185 |
Picnic Tables Bird Watching Fishing Hiking Swimming Launch Ramp |
Park Day Use includes: |
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Endangered Species |
Home to a remarkable variety of non-releasable, endangered, and exotic live animals. Open 7 days a week, by appointment. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m |
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Farm Tour |
Guided tours are held on Saturdays, every hour from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., from May through October. |
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Feather River Fish
Hatchery Off Table Mountain Blvd. Oroville 534.2436 |
Tours |
The hatchery can comprise 9,000 adult salmon and 2,000 adult steel head. The incubators can hold 20 million eggs, and 9.6 million fingerlings can be reared in the eight concrete raceways. During their Spring-run in June and the Fall-run in September-November, the fish can be seen jumping the ladder-like steps leading to the gathering tanks. |
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Boating Camping Fishing Picnicking Off-Roading Wind Surfing |
A variety water sports, camping opportunities, day hikes, and picnic destinations await at Black Butte Lake. |
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Boating Camping Fishing Hiking Biking Equestrian Trails |
Lake Oroville is one of the largest lakes in California. With 167 miles of shoreline, Lake Oroville covers over 15,800 surface acres, and reaches depths up to 695 feet! Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Biking & Equestrian Trails. |
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Bidwell Canyon Marina
801 Bidwell Canyon Road Lake Oroville 589-3165 |
Boat Rentals
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Boat Rentals - Houseboats, Patio Boats, Fishing Boats, Ski Boats, Wave Runners. |
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Houseboat Rentals |
House boat rentals. |
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Forbay Aquatic Center - CSUChico Oroville 624-6919 |
Aquatic Rentals |
Aquatic Center Rentals include Kayak, Hydro Bike, Pedal Boat, Canoe, Sailboat, Hobie Cat 16 - CSUChico |
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Feather River Nature Center Oroville 534-6684 |
Nature Center |
City of Oroville |
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canoeing kayaking bird watching |
The mission of River Partners is to create wildlife habitat for the benefit of people and the environment. River Partners protects the environment by implementing large scale restoration along streams and rivers. We work on the major river systems of California's Central Valley. |
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Various |
Motor Boating, Kayaking/Canoeing, Fishing, Hunting, Swimming, Tubing, Birding, Photography, Nature Observation, Nature Walk, Tent Sites, Group Camp Sites, Trailer Sites, RV Sites, Cabins, Walking, Hiking |
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Hiking |
The Yuba Historical Society offers several types of hiking experiences through the Sutter Buttes. Our "open day" excursions are on weekends and are tailored for the general publics participation. |
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Clay Pit SVRA |
Off-Roading Rifle Range |
A motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and dune buggy use area and rifle range. -CA State Parks |
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Recreation & Park Districts near-by Chico |
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Classes Sports Special Events |
Oroville: Sports, Aquatics, Classes, Parks, Special Events, After School Programs, Senior Activities, Facility Rentals. Feather River Recreation & Parks District |
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Classes Sports Special Events |
Paradise: Sports, Aquatics, Classes, Parks, Special Events, After School Programs, Senior Activities, Facility Rentals. City of Paradise |
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Classes Sports Special Events |
Durham: Sports, Aquatics, Classes, Parks, Special Events, After School Programs, Senior Activities, Facility Rentals. City of Durham |
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Paradise Ridge Senior Ctr 877 Nunneley Road Paradise 877-1733 |
Senior Activities |
A multipurpose center focusing on the recreational, educational and social needs of Ridge area senior residents. Paradise Ridge |
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Fishing |
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Lake Oroville - Known as the best Bass lake in CA. |
Lake Oroville plays host to several bass tournaments throughout the year. But Lake Oroville isn't just for pros. Everybody has a good time fishing here. The closest lake access from Chico is Lake Oroville Marina, just 25 miles off Highway 70. |
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Sacramento River - salmon, striped bass, sturgeon and catfish. |
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Black Butte Lake Recreation Area - Crappie, Bass, Catfish, Bluegill, Green Sunfish |
Black Butte is well known throughout California as an excellent warm water fishery, with the best fishing during the spring and early summer. Crappie, largemouth and smallmouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass, channel catfish, Florida bluegill, and green sunfish are the major game fish. |
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Butte Creek supports the largest run of Wild, Naturally Spawned Spring Run Chinook Salmon in California. Currently closed to fishing to protect the salmon. |
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Tubing |
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Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park |
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Butte Creek Canyon Centerville and Honey Run Roads Chico |
Float from the Steel Bridge down to the Covered Bridge. Private homes are located on the creek's edge, therefore please be respectful of their privacy and properties. No alcohol or glass containers allowed. |
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Hiking, Cycling, Running and outdoor activities |
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We cover the most fetching trails within 2:10 of Chico. |
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The Chico Running Club has about 145 members, including runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. The CRC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping the sports of running and walking alive. |
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If you are looking for some great people to cycle with - or just talk about cycling - join us for a ride or one of our monthly club meetings. |
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Eat, Breathe, Drink, Pedal! |
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A regional unit of the Sierra Club, Yahi Group with 1500 members have interests in both the conservation and enjoyment of wilderness and the natural world. The Group organizes hiking and other outdoor activities; it also provides a focused response to environmental issues in the region. It is operated entirely by volunteers. |
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| Wildlife Areas and Ecological Preserves |
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Gray Lodge's diversity and location along the Pacific Flyway make it a heaven for wildlife. Surrounded by miles of rich agricultural lands, this 9,100-acre area is managed for the wildlife that call Gray Lodge home for all or part of the year. - CA Govt. Dept of Fish & Game |
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Butte College Wildlife Refuge Butte College Oroville |
A mosaic of plant communities which provide food, lodging and breeding grounds for a great variety of wildlife and allow abundant resources for our programs in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environmental Studies, Biology and other programs our college offers. - Butte College |
Self-guiding nature trail: (1 mile loop) meanders through a unique botanical area in Edgar Slough which has remnants of exotic species that were planted when this was a Plant Introduction Center. During normal work hours employees are available to answer questions. Dogs must be leashed. The Center is generally open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. USDA Forest Service |
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The Butte Creek Ecological Preserve and the CSU, Chico Research Foundations Ecological Reserve System work together to preserve critical habitat and to provide a natural area for environmental research and education. - CSUChico |
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Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve Chico 898-5010 |
The Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve contains 3,950 acres of diverse canyon and ridge habitats, including 4.5 miles of Big Chico Creek, and is home to many species of plants and animals. -CSUChico |
Accessible through organized outings, from birding walks to challenging summit ascents. Hiking season starts in late October. Advance registration is a must. Schedule available on website after October 7. |
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Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex Approximately 90 miles north of Sacramento. |
The Complex consists of five national wildlife refuges (NWR) and three wildlife management areas (WMA) that comprise over 35,000 acres of wetlands and uplands in the Sacramento Valley of California. In addition, there are over 30,000 acres of conservation easements in the Complex. The Refuges and easements are part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service); they serve as resting and feeding areas for nearly half the migratory birds on the Pacific Flyway. |
Chico Parks